Golf bag and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A golf bag has a simple structure requiring a small number of components and a small number of processes so that a golf club put in a golf bag body can be prevented from being damaged caused by touching the exposed portions of the fasteners exposed inside of the golf bag body. The golf bag has portions of fasteners for fastening components of a golf bag body, and/or portions of fasteners for fastening accessories, such as a handle, a shoulder strap, a buckle, and trims, the golf bag body. Elastic projecting portions which protrude in exposed portions of the fasteners and/or in the vicinity of the exposed portions of the fasteners are provided inside of the golf bag body, and the projecting portions are higher than the exposed portions of the fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf bag and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIGS. 10 to 12 are illustrations showing an example of a manufacturing method of a conventional golf bag. FIG. 10 is an illustration showing a step of the method; FIG. 11 is an illustration showing another step; and FIG. 12 is an illustration showing still another step.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a conventional golf bag 1 includes a golf bag body la, and the golf bag body la includes a cylindrical body 2, and an opening rim portion 3 and a bottom rim portion 4 which are attached to upper and lower portions of the cylindrical body 2, respectively, in the axial direction of the body 2. As shown in FIG. 11, the cylindrical body 2 includes, for example, a cylindrical core material 5 which is formed by rolling up a core material 5 made of synthetic resin or other suitable material, and a cover 6 which is made of natural leather, synthetic resin leather, other suitable material and covers the cylindrical core material 5. The opening rim portion 3 and the bottom rim portion 4 are fit on an upper-opening peripheral portion and a lower-opening peripheral portion of the golf bag body la, respectively, and sewed thereon. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, accessories 9 which include a gripper 7, a buckle portion 8 having a D-ring 8 a, and trims 9 a and 9 b are attached on the outer portions of the golf bag body la, for example. The accessories 9 are secured with fasteners R, such as metal rivets, to outer portions of the cylindrical body 2, opening rim portion 3, and other suitable portions.

However, in the golf bag 1, for example as shown in FIG. 13, since the tops of the fasteners R are exposed to the inner space of the golf bag body la, the tops of the fasteners R come in contact with a golf club C, which is disposed in the golf bag 1, and thus may damage the golf club C. In addition, when the golf club C is put in and taken out, the tops of the fasteners R may also damage the hand of a user.

Therefore, in order to solve such problems, the following conventional techniques have been proposed.

Specifically, a conventional technique is, for example, a caddie bag which has a bridging belt fastened with rivets on a cylindrical club-entrance opening, where a cushion belt is provided to hide the heads of the rivets and a Magic Tape® is provided for adhering the back surface of the cushion belt on the bridging belt after one end of the cushion belt is sewed on the bridging belt and the bridging belt is fastened with rivets on the club entrance opening (see, for example, Publication of Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2595384 (page 2, FIG. 1) (Patent Document 1)). According to this conventional technique, the cushion belt that is provided to hide the anchors of the rivets prevents a shaft of a golf club which is put in the caddie bag from coming in contact with the anchors of the metal rivets and thus being damaged.

However, this conventional technique, which prevents the rivets from being exposed requires components such as the bridging belt, cushion belt, and Magic tape (registered trademark), so that the number of components and the number of processes for attaching the components on the club entrance opening increase, as compared to that of the conventional method. In addition, the joint between each of the bridging belt and cushion belt and the Magic tape (registered trademark) may also become loose.

In view of these problems, a method for manufacturing the opening rim portion of a caddie bag without increasing the number of components and the number of processes and without exposing the rivets is proposed.

Specifically, another conventional technique is a caddie bag, which focuses on the opening rim portion, in which a clevis with a hanging D-ring is sandwiched between overlapping portions of the opening rim portion and thus is fastened with the rivets; one end portion of a cover for covering the entire overlapping portions is fastened with rivets at the outer side of the opening rim portion; the opening rim portion is folded through the D-ring; and the upper edge portion of the caddie bag body is sandwiched between another end portion of the cover and the opening rim portion and then are sewed on the caddie bag body, so that the caulking portions of the rivets are not exposed to the inner space of the opening rim portion (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-276650 (page 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 and 2) (Patent Document 2)). According to this conventional technique, since one sheet of covering prevents the metal fittings and rivets from being exposed, the number of components and the number of processes are reduced as compared to the conventional technique described above.

However, even the conventional technique as shown in Patent Document 2 does not solve the problems in which the technique requires additional separate members such as the clevis with the D-ring hanging and one sheet of cover, and still increases the number of components and the number of processes for attaching the components on the opening rim portion. In addition, the process of attaching the components is cumbersome and difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a golf bag and a method of manufacturing of the golf bag capable of preventing a golf club from being damaged caused by a contact between exposed portions of fasteners exposed to the inner space of a golf bag body and the golf bag put in the golf bag body, using a simple structure that reduces the number of components and the number of processes as much as possible.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a golf bag which includes a golf bag body, at least one fastener defined by at least one of a rivet, a screw, a pin, a bolt, and a nut provided as at least one of a structural element of the golf bag body and an attachment member for attaching an accessory to the golf bag body, the at least one fastener including an exposed portion that is exposed to an inner space of the golf bag body, and at least one elastic projecting portion provided in the inner space of the golf bag body at least one of a location at which the exposed portion of the at least one fastener is disposed and the vicinity of the location at which the exposed portion of the at least one fastener is disposed. The at least one elastic projecting portion extends further into the inner space of the golf bag body than the exposed portion of the at least one fastener.

If the projecting portion extends in the vicinity of the exposed portion of the fastener, a step (height difference) is provided which is a difference in height between the exposed portion of the fastener and the projecting portion. Therefore, when a golf club is put into the golf bag body, a shaft of the golf club merely comes into contact with the projecting portion and does not come into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener. In other words, the projecting portion, which protrudes further inside of the golf bag body, comes into contact with the shaft of the golf club before the golf club comes into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener, and thus, the golf club is prevented from coming into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener. In addition, since the projecting portion is elastic, even if the projecting portion comes into contact with the golf club, the shaft of the golf club is protected from being damaged.

On the other hand, if the projecting portion protrudes at a location corresponding to the exposed portion of the fastener, since the projecting portion is elastic, the exposed portion of the fastener makes a partial dent in the projecting portion, so that the exposed portion is buried in a recessed portion of the projecting portion. In this case, since a step (height difference) is formed between the top of the exposed portion of the fastener and a non-recessed portion of the projecting portion, the shaft of the golf club merely comes into contact with the projecting portion (the non-recessed portion of the projecting portion) but does not come into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener, when the golf club is put in the golf bag body. Therefore, it is possible to avoid contact between the golf club and the exposed portion of the fastener. In addition, since the projecting portion is elastic, even if the projecting portion comes into contact with the golf club, the shaft of the golf club is protected from being damaged.

According to this preferred embodiment, in order to avoid contact between the exposed portion of the fastener and the golf club, the separate member used in the conventional technique is not required, and the golf bag has a simple structure in which the elastic projecting portion which protrudes in the exposed portion of the fastener and/or at least in the vicinity of the exposed portion is merely provided inside of the golf bag body, so that the number of components and the number of processes are reduced as much as possible as compared to the conventional technique.

The golf bag according to this preferred embodiment is preferably cylindrical and includes a core material therein. The exposed portion of the at least one fastener is exposed inside of the core material, and the at least one elastic projecting portion is disposed at the location in the vicinity of exposed portion of the at least one fastener.

When a golf club is put in the golf bag body, the projecting portion, which extends further than the exposed portion of the fastener, comes into contact with the shaft of the golf club in the inner space of the core material before the golf club comes into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener. Therefore, the golf club is prevented from coming into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener. In addition, since the projecting portion is elastic, even if the projecting portion comes into contact with the golf club, the golf club is protected from being damaged.

In order to prevent contact between the exposed portion of the fastener and the golf club, the separate member used in the conventional technique is not required, and the golf bag has a simple structure in which the elastic projecting portion which protrudes at least in the vicinity of the exposed portion is merely provided inside of the core material, so that the number of components and the number of processes are reduced as much as possible compared with the conventional technique.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing the golf bag which includes a body forming step of forming a cylindrical golf bag body having a core material therein. The body forming step includes a step of providing at least one fastener which extends from an outer surface to an inner surface of the cylindrical golf bag body, the at least one fastener including an exposed portion that extends into an inner space of the cylindrical golf bag body, a projecting portion forming step of forming at least one elastic projecting portion on one main surface of the core material such that the projecting portion extends into the inner space of the cylindrical golf bag body at least in the vicinity of the exposed portion of the at least one fastener, and a cylindrical body forming step of forming the core material in a cylindrical shape so that the one main surface of the core material is inside.

The elastic projecting portion which protrudes in an exposed portion where the fastener is exposed and/or in the vicinity of the exposed portion is formed by the projecting portion forming step. Therefore, this preferred embodiment provides the same advantages as the preferred embodiment described above.

According to another preferred embodiment, a method of manufacturing the golf bag includes a body forming step of forming the cylindrical golf bag body having a core material therein, wherein the body forming step includes a projecting portion forming step of forming a projecting portion on one main surface of the core material so that the projecting portion protrudes at least in the vicinity of the exposed portion of the fastener, and a cylindrical body forming step of forming the core material in a cylindrical shape so that the main surface of the core material is inside.

In this preferred embodiment, in the projection portion forming step, the at least one elastic protecting portion preferably extends into the inner space further than the at least one fastener.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a golf bag which has a simple structure requiring a small number of components and a small number of processes so that a golf club put in a golf bag body is protected from being damaged by coming into contact with the exposed portion of the fastener exposed to the inner space of the golf bag body, and a manufacturing method of the golf bag.

The above and other elements, steps, features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clarified by the following description of best mode for carrying out the invention, when considered with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(A) to 1(C) are views showing one example of a preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention and the use thereof, wherein FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of its main portion, FIG. 1(B) is a side view of the main portion, and FIG. 1(C) is an enlarged view of the main portion.

FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C) are illustrations showing steps of a method of manufacturing the golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2(A) is a front view of an example of projecting portions, FIG. 2(B) is a side view of the projecting portion shown in FIG. 2(A), and FIG. 2(C) is a front view showing a state in which the projecting portions are attached on a core material.

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing another step of the method of manufacturing the golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing still another step of the method of manufacturing the golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing still another step of the method of manufacturing the golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6(A) is an enlarged view of the main portion showing an action and effect of the golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6(B) is an enlarged view showing another example of an action and effect of the golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7(A) is an enlarged front view of the main portion of another example of a preferred embodiment of the golf bag according to the present invention; and FIG. 7(B) is an enlarged front view of the main portion of a modification of FIG. 7(A).

FIGS. 8(A) to 8(C) are enlarged front views of the main portion of still another example of a preferred embodiment of the golf bag according to the present invention.

FIGS. 9(A) to 9(C) are enlarged front views of the main portion of still another example of a preferred embodiment of the golf bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustration showing a step of a method of manufacturing a conventional golf bag.

FIG. 11 is an illustration showing another step of a method of manufacturing a conventional golf bag.

FIG. 12 is an illustration showing still another step of a method of manufacturing a conventional golf bag.

FIGS. 13(A) to 13(C) are illustrations of a state where a golf club is put in a golf bag manufactured by a conventional method of manufacturing a golf bag, wherein FIG. 13(A) is a perspective view of its main portion, FIG. 13(B) is a side view of the main portion, and FIG. 13(C) is an enlarged view of the main portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A golf bag and a manufacturing method thereof according to preferred embodiments of the present invention protect a golf club disposed therein from being damaged by coming into contact with fasteners such, as rivets, exposed to the inner space of a golf bag body, without increasing the number of components and the number of processes, by providing an elastic projecting portion that extends further than the exposed portions of the fasteners in an inner surface of the golf bag body in the exposed portion of the fasteners and/or in the vicinity of the exposed portion.

FIGS. 1(A) to (C) are views showing one example of a golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the use thereof, FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of its main portion, FIG. 1(B) is a side view of the main portion, and FIG. 1(C) is an enlarged view of the main portion. FIGS. 2(A) to FIG. 5 are illustrations showing steps of the method of manufacturing the golf bag according to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and other figures, a golf bag 10 includes a golf bag body 12. The golf bag body 12 is provided with a substantially cylindrical body 14, and an opening rim portion 16 and a bottom rim portion 18 which are attached to upper and lower portions of the substantially cylindrical body 14, respectively, in the axial direction of the substantially cylindrical body 14. As shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), the substantially cylindrical body 14 includes a core material 20 which has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape, and is made of synthetic resin and other suitable material. As shown in FIG. 3, the substantially cylindrical body 14 is preferably formed by rolling up the core material 20. As shown in FIGS. 1(A) to 2(C), the substantially cylindrical body 14 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that one end portion of the core material 20 in the longitudinal direction is overlapped with another end portion of the core material 20 in the longitudinal direction, and then the overlapping portions (joint portions) are sewed and/or secured with metal fasteners R.

The substantially cylindrical body 14 is covered with a cover 22 which is made of natural leather, synthetic resin leather, or other suitable material. The opening rim portion 16 and the bottom rim portion 18 are fit on an upper-opening peripheral portion 12 a and lower-opening peripheral portion 12 b of the golf bag body 12, respectively, and sewed thereon. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, accessories 32 which include a gripper 24, a buckle portion 26 having a D-ring 26 a, trims 28 and 30, and other accessories are attached on the outer portions of the golf bag body 12, for example. As shown in FIG. 5, the accessories 32 are secured with the fasteners R to outer portions of the golf bag body 12 and the opening rim portion 16.

In order to form the golf bag body 12, the fasteners R fastening the substantially cylindrical body 14 and the fasteners R for attaching the accessories 32 on the outer portions of the golf bag body 12 are partially exposed to an inner space of the core material 20 which is arranged inside of the golf bag body 12. As the fasteners R, for example, rivets, screws, pins, bolts, and nuts can be used.

In this preferred embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, rivets including a head Ra, a shaft Rb, and a base Rc are used as the fasteners R, and are driven from outside the substantially cylindrical body 14 of the golf bag body 12. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1(C), the shaft Rb of the fastener R is inserted into an anchor hole 36 and the base Rc in a portion 34 at which the fastener R is fastened and secured, and a new anchor head Rd is formed by punching the top portion of the shaft Rb. The base Rc and anchor head Rd are formed on the inner surface of the core material 20 as exposed portions.

In this preferred embodiment, in particular, in order to avoid a contact between a golf club C and the exposed anchor head Rd of the fastener R, as shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), an avoidance member 40 is formed on one end portion of the core material 20 in the longitudinal direction. The avoidance member 40 includes a support base 42 which has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape. A plurality of projecting portions 44 are arranged on one main surface of the support base 42 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction thereof. The plurality of projecting portions 44 each have, for example, a substantially rectangular shape, and a substantially semicircular cross-section. The plurality of projecting portions 44 are each formed so as to protrude from one main surface of the support base 42.

The support base 42 and the projecting portions 44 of the avoidance member 40 are integrally and unitarily formed of an elastic material. In this preferred embodiment, the support base 42 and the projecting portions 44 are integrally and unitarily formed of a foamed plastic material such as urethane foam, a rubber material, or other suitable materials, such as a cushion, flexible material.

The avoidance member 40 is arranged on the core material 20 forming the substantially cylindrical body 14 so that one of the plurality of projecting portions 44 protrudes in the vicinity of the exposed portion (i.e., the base Rc and the anchor head Rd) of the fastener R. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), the avoidance member 40 is arranged on one main surface of the core material 20 by, for example, being sewed on one end portion of the core material 20 in the longitudinal direction.

In this preferred embodiment, since a step defining a height difference is formed between each exposed portion (i.e., the base Rc and the anchor head Rd) of the fastener R and each projecting portion 44 of the avoidance member 40, as shown in FIGS. 1(A) to 1(C) and FIG. 6(A), the shaft of the golf club C merely comes into contact with the projecting portions 44 but does not come into contact with the exposed portions of the fasteners R when the golf club C is put in the golf bag body 12. In other words, the projecting portions 44, which protrude inside of the golf bag body 12 and extend further than those of the exposed portions of the fasteners R, come into contact with the shaft of the golf club C before the golf club C comes into contact with the exposed portions of the fasteners R. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the golf club C from coming into contact with the exposed portions of the fasteners R. In addition to this, since the projecting portions 44 has a cushioning property, even if the projecting portions 44 come into contact with the golf club C, the shaft of the golf club C is protected from being damaged. When the golf club C is put in and taken out, the hand of a user is protected from being damaged by the exposed portions of the fasteners R.

If the projecting portions 44 protrude at positions corresponding to the exposed portions of the fasteners R, respectively, since the projecting portions 44 have a cushioning property, the exposed portions of the fasteners R make dents in the projecting portions 44, so that the exposed portions are buried in recessed portions 46 of the projecting portions 44, as shown in FIG. 6(B). In this case, since a step (height difference) is formed between each of the tops (i.e., the anchor head Rd) of the exposed portions of the fasteners R and each non-recessed portion of the projecting portions 44, the shaft of the golf club C merely comes into contact with the non-recessed portions 45 of the projecting portions 44 but does not come in contact with the exposed portions of the fasteners R, when the golf club C is put in the golf bag body 12.

According to the golf bag and the manufacturing method thereof in this preferred embodiment, as described above, in order to avoid a contact between each of the exposed portions of the fasteners R and the golf club C, the additional member used in the conventional technique is not required, and the golf bag has a simple structure in which the projecting portions 44 having a cushion property merely protrude in the exposed portions of the fasteners R and/or at least in the vicinity of the exposed portions of the fasteners R. Therefore, the golf bag and the manufacturing method thereof in this preferred embodiment require a small number of components and a small number of processes as compared to the conventional technique.

The shape and the arrangement of the projecting portions 44 are not limited to the preferred embodiment described above, and the projecting portions 44 may have various shapes and arrangements, as shown in FIGS. 7(A) to 9(C), for example.

Specifically, the avoidance member 40 shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B) differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 only in that the projecting portions 44 are arranged in the vicinity of the upper and lower portions of the exposed portions (i.e., the base Rc and the anchor head Rd) of the fasteners R and the projecting portions 44 are not arranged at positions where the fasteners R are not attached. The avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 7(B) differs from those shown in FIG. 7(A) in that the projecting portions 44 are also arranged in the lateral direction of the support base 42 at intervals.

In the avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 8(A), one group of the projecting portions 44 are arranged so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the support base 42 and another group of the projecting portions 44 are arranged so as to extend in the lateral direction of the support base 42. In the avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 8(B), the projecting portions 44 having respective square shapes are mixed and arranged. In the avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 8(C), the projecting portions 44 each have a disc shape.

In the avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 9(A), the projecting portions 44, each having a single triangle shape, are arranged in the vicinity of the upper and lower portions of the exposed portions of the fasteners R. In the avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 9(B), the projecting portions 44, each having a single semicircular shape, are arranged in the vicinity of the upper and lower portions of the exposed portions of the fasteners R. In the avoidance member 40 shown in FIG. 9(C), a plurality of projecting portions 44, each having a triangle shape, are arranged around the exposed portions of the fasteners R.

A golf bag and a manufacturing method thereof according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in either a golf bag in which accessories including a handle, a shoulder strap, a belt, a buckle, an umbrella holder, and various trims are attached on the golf bag body and its opening rim portion with fasteners such as metal rivets, screws, pins, bolts, and nuts, and other fasteners, or a golf bag in which a golf bag body is formed in a cylindrical shape by driving fasteners into components of the golf bag body in order to form the golf bag body.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims. 

1-4. (canceled) 5: A golf bag comprising: a golf bag body; at least one fastener defined by at least one of a rivet, a screw, a pin, a bolt, and a nut provided as at least one structural element of the golf bag body and an attachment member arranged to attach an accessory to the golf bag body, the at least one fastener including an exposed portion that is exposed to an inner space of the golf bag body; and at least one elastic projecting portion provided in the inner space of the golf bag body at least one of a location at which the exposed portion of the at least one fastener is disposed and the vicinity of the location at which the exposed portion of the at least one fastener is disposed; wherein the at least one elastic projecting portion extends further into the inner space of the golf bag body than the exposed portion of the at least one fastener. 6: The golf bag according to claim 5, wherein the golf bag body is substantially cylindrical and includes a core material therein, the exposed portion of the at least one fastener is exposed inside of the core material, and the at least one elastic projecting portion is disposed at the location in the vicinity of exposed portion of the at least one fastener. 7: A manufacturing method of the golf bag comprising: a body forming step of forming a substantially cylindrical golf bag body having a core material therein, wherein the body forming step includes: a step of providing at least one fastener which extends from an outer surface to an inner surface of the substantially cylindrical golf bag body, the at least one fastener including an exposed portion that extends into an inner space of the substantially cylindrical golf bag body; a projecting portion forming step of forming at least one elastic projecting portion on one main surface of the core material such that the projecting portion extends into the inner space of the substantially cylindrical golf bag body at least in the vicinity of the exposed portion of the at least one fastener; and a substantially cylindrical body forming step of forming the core material in a substantially cylindrical shape so that the one main surface of the core material is inside. 8: The manufacturing method of the golf bag according to claim 7, wherein in the projection portion forming step, the at least one elastic protecting portion extends into the inner space further than the at least one fastener. 